[jlturner5]

I am interested in finding a comprehensive list of nicknames or slang terms for different hand shapes. It seems like knowing these could be useful for learning how to bid different hand shapes and discussing them with partner. I've seen 4441 called "rattlesnake," 7222 called "death," and 7411 called "swan." Are there other nicknames out there?

[nige1]

 jlturner5, on 2021-February-02, 21:03, said:

I am interested in finding a comprehensive list of nicknames or slang terms for different hand shapes. It seems like knowing these could be useful for learning how to bid different hand shapes and discussing them with partner. I've seen 4441 called "rattlesnake," 7222 called "death," and 7411 called "swan." Are there other nicknames out there?

Based on the convention that ...

• | = vertical bar = hand.
• D = Half-circle = suit in balanced hand
• - = Horiontal bar = suit in unbalanced hand.

You can derive mnemonic terms for basic shapes e.g.

• P = Pudding = 4333.
• D = Dull = 5332
• E = Empty = 4441.
• R = Roman = 54xy.
• F = Freak = 55xy.
• L = Long = 6xyz.

Refined for more extreme shapes e.g.

ER = Empty Roman = 5440
LR = Long Roman = 64xy
LF = Long Freak = 65xy

[chasetb]

I have heard that 4333 is a pancake, because it's as flat a distribution as you can get. I have also heard the three that you mentioned - the rattlesnake, swan, and death. I also thought Roman was specifically a 5440 hand (since Rattlesnake hands are 4441).

[nullve]

In Norway we use 'rund hånd' (lit. 'round hand') as a synonym for 'balansert hånd' ('balanced hand') and 'trillrund hånd' (lit. 'roll-round hand' (a hand so round it can be rolled)) to suggest a hand with (4333) shape.

[mycroft]

I once "translated" a set of Swedish system notes, because I was interested. The one thing I couldn't work out from context and a quick English translation of the opening bids was "marmic". Turns out, because of the focus on this hand of a system called Marmic, it referred to 4441s. I've used it (in my head) ever since. Sometimes I forget it's not a North American idiom and use it IRL, to a lot of blank stares. But eventually there will be a Swedish bridge player in the conversation, who will also be blank-staring, but in "how do you know about that?" mode.